FOCUS AREA: CONNECTED COMMUNITIES Priority Action BETTER AND SAFER VISITOR ACCESS TO TOURISM ICONS AND EXPERIENCES

WHY IS THIS A PRIORITY? PROJECT BENEFITS Poor access to the region’s well-known tourism The project will provide a strategy to identify and experiences, including the and Lake prioritise visitor access and contribute to the Mungo, presents barriers to visitation and access to growth and diversity of the regional economy. other regional tourism assets and negatively affects The project will: the local economy. • Improve access for tourists to key regional Tourism is a valuable contributor with an estimated destinations and experiences. total annual value of $670 million to the region based on recreational, nature-based, cultural, • Attract funding to seal Arumpo and Marma eco and agri-tourism and heritage attractions. Box Creek roads and improve access to . Rural City Council is largest in terms of share of regional tourism value, followed by Murray River • Assist in the development of the Murray Valley Council with 21.4% and Swan Hill Rural City Council Highway into an iconic, nationally recognised 15.3%. This also reflects the level of investment and tourism route. depth of infrastructure and services available at each • Provide an evidence base for funding applications. of these locations. Travel to the region has increased with domestic and RECENT ACTIVITY international visitors coming to the region to visit the iconic Murray River and nearby lakes and forests. Wentworth Shire has completed an Arumpo Road National parks, including Lake Mungo, attract an improvement study to address access issues into estimated 30,000 visitors per annum. Mungo National Park. Lake Tyrell has recently become a major drawcard for visitors from China and a Silo Art Trail is being developed following the innovative decoration of NEXT STEPS unused grain silos. A broader understanding of emerging tourism ADVOCACY: needs and tourist routes for upgrading is required. Attract funding to enable road upgrades.

Assess and prioritise access routes to key tourism assets and identify infrastructure gaps.

Partner with regional tourism boards and organisations to develop a ‘Murray River Road’ iconic route based on the Murray Valley Highway.

The Central Murray Regional Transport Forum is an initiative of:

Ref: 20190603 2 STATES THE CENTRAL 7 COUNCILS MURRAY REGIONAL 1 REGION TRANSPORT FORUM

THE CENTRAL MURRAY REGIONAL TRANSPORT FORUM

The Central Murray Regional Transport Forum (CMRTF) was established in 2010 to identify transport needs and challenges of the Sunraysia/Mallee region and advocate for improvement to the region’s transport network. Comprising councillors and senior staff from the shires of Balranald, Buloke, Gannawarra, Murray River and Wentworth, and the rural cities of Swan Hill and Mildura; the CMRTF has developed a Strategy to clarify the region’s transport infrastructure needs and better position the region for the next stages of economic growth and social development.

PRIORITY ACTIONS:

Increase Echuca and Swan Hill daily train Construct a Provide better Invest in major Develop tracks services Mildura truck access to highways and trails bypass tourism icons Complete an integrated transport and WENTWORTH Complete a land use study north west BALRANALD transport study Mildura Invest in local transport MILDURA SWAN options Complete the HILL Swan Hill Murray Basin Deniliquin MURRAY Canberra Rail Project RIVER GANNAWARRA BULOKE Improve cross border NEW efficiency SOUTH Define high WALES productivity Bendigo road networks VICTORIA Complete a Melbourne horticulture Geelong Portland Upgrade Murray supply chain River crossings study

Upgrade priority Improve the transport routes Calder Highway

WENTWORTH

The Central Murray Regional TransportBALRANALD Forum is an initiative of: Mildura

MILDURA SWAN HILL Swan Hill Deneliquin MURRAY RIVER GANNAWARRA BULOKE

• Bendigo VICTORIA

• Melbourne